Question about drains

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FrenchPorsche
FrenchPorsche Member Posts: 75
edited May 2019 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi. I had my mastectomy last Thursday 18 April. I've had one drain in since then. I went in yesterday for a check up and was told it would need to stay in until Thursday or Friday this week. Yesterday I got 75ml and this morning 50ml. I think I will have somewhere in between those two by tomorrow morning. Have a 9.30am appointment and desperate to get the drain out. It is so uncomfortable.

I've read they will remove the drain when the output is 30ml or less and I'm sure mine won't be that low. Has anyone had their drains out when their output was around the 50-75ml and was it all ok?

If they tell me it has to stay in for the weekend I think I'll freak!

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  • MDRR
    MDRR Member Posts: 133
    edited April 2019

    Hang in there! I had 2 drains that stayed in for almost 3 weeks; then another that had to be put back in 3 weeks later for another 3 weeks (it was a smaller drain). It's really important that the fluid starts to slow before they remove the drains. My one breast continued to generate fluid as a seroma, which is why I had to have one drain reinserted.

    They aren't comfortable or fun, but very necessary, so hold on -- it will be behind you soon!

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  • Rrobin0200
    Rrobin0200 Member Posts: 433
    edited April 2019

    the drains are the worst part. Had mine in for 2 weeks and I begged him to remove them. His rule of thumb was 15ml. I was a little over that but I told him that I just couldn’t recover with them. He was hesitant.. very hesitant... but he removed them anyway. I was totally fine.

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  • FrenchPorsche
    FrenchPorsche Member Posts: 75
    edited April 2019

    thank you both so much for responding. I got 60ml this morning so I am preparing myself for the drain to stay in, but I will ask them to check the exit site as I think there must be a stitch or something irritating my skin there. If they can get that sorted I think I'll be ok! 😊

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  • Via
    Via Member Posts: 55
    edited April 2019

    oh my goodness! I remember walking in my room crying due that they hurt so much! I wanted them out! I went to my appointment and I had to wait 4 more days because I didn’t have the numbers.

    Just remember this every second that goes by your body is doing what it has to, to be able to heal! When it gets hardremember how far you have come since you woke up from surgery! You can do this and the drains are just there to help your body heal! As horrible as that sounds is the truth! In two weeks I have my second surgery and they have told me I do not need the drains again.


    You got this let your body heal! They will take them out soon! And when they take them out. BY the way it does nit hurt at all!

    Via


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  • ipenelope
    ipenelope Member Posts: 301
    edited May 2019

    FrenchPorsche,

    Like the others have mentioned the drains suck majorly!! I sadly had 3 after a BMX, 2 on cancer side and 1 other. I had so many issues with mine and sadly had them the max amount of time, 3 weeks, and I had just under 30 mls when they were removed.

    Hang in there and they will be out soon!!

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  • FrenchPorsche
    FrenchPorsche Member Posts: 75
    edited May 2019

    Thanks for the responses. I had it taken out after 8 days, and I think I was lucky in the end. Plenty of swelling and discomfort since then but I’m told it will be ok as long as I don’t get an infection. :-

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